Baraga at Ewen-Trout Creek – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 13, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft
Today, the Bleacher Denizen is headed to Ewen, MI, where the Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers will host the Baraga Vikings in a game between two of the top girls’ basketball teams not only in the Upper Peninsula, but in all of Michigan. Baraga enters this game with a 9-0 record while Ewen-Trout Creek is at 5-1.
I broke this trip to the western Upper Peninsula up and stopped at Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart for their game against Vestaburg (boys). Friday, I covered this game between St. Ignace and Brimley’s girls.
This is not the first time these teams have appeared in “The Bleacher Denizen.”
Last year, Ewen-Trout Creek made it all the way to the final game of the tournament when they played a dominating Fowler team. I covered that game as well as this semifinal game when the Panthers defeated Concord!!
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/03/21/ewen-trout-creek-vs-concord-mhsaa-girls-basketball-division-4-state-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-20-2025-by-chuck-krafft/
I also had the privilege of covering Baraga in 2023 when they defeated Fowler in the semifinal! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/03/17/baraga-vs-fowler-girls-basketball-mhsaa-division-4-state-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-16-2023-by-chuck-krafft/
While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this video of “Four In The Morning” from my You Tube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwKDbxp-uuE
Baraga Coach Tyler Larson provided me with this information about his Viking players.
Kara Roberts is an excellent scorer, passer, dribbler and perimeter defender. She averages 19.6 points per game and is a threat to score on slashes to the basket or from the three point line. Mya Hendrickson is a creative scorer in the lane where she uses post moves to score. She is quick for a center and defends the post well. She is also a fine rebounder.
Janet Jahfetson is an eighth grader who already has the skills to run the point where she handles the ball well and is a good passer. She is also a tough perimeter defender. Cara Connor plays in the post where she is a solid scorer, defender and rebounder.
Ewen-Trout Creek coach Jacky Besonen gave me this information about some of her Panther players.
Emma Besonen is a senior guard who was All-State last year. She shoots the deep three point shot well and can also drive to the basket. She is an strong perimeter defender and passer who specializes in throwing timely and accurate passes on the fast break. Bree Besonen is a sophomore starter who was first team All-State last year. She is a brilliant perimeter defender who generally guards the other team’s best perimeter scorer. She is also a great ball handler who can drive to the basket to score or hit the three point shot.
Irelynd McGeshick is a senior who is tough in the post. She can stronger than most girls and has great hands for catching passes and grabbing rebounds. She is a good rim protector and also is a steadying influence who throws good passes. McKayla Basel is a tall, athletic sophomore who runs the floor well and is a tough defender. She also has an accurate shot from the baseline out to fifteen or sixteen feet.
Hannah Ferguson is another senior starter who is a smart player. She is a tough defender and a smart player who handles the ball well and does not turn it over. She is a glue player who sets a lot of the screens and consistently makes the right (and safe) pass. Leona Schutz is a freshman who last year was the first eighth grader ever to appear in a state championship game. She is the first player of the bench. She provides strong defense and an accurate shot.
The Ewen-Trout Creek choir opened the game with a beautiful choral arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner!! They were amazing. As a musician myself, I appreciate the discipline, talent and practice it takes for a choir to sing a song that well!! I always love to salute a great musician. By the way, Panther players Emma Besonen and Bree Besonen sang with the choir. As the choir was excellent, I know that Emma and Bree certainly did their part well.
It is now time to look through the events of this game through the somewhat open eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the days of yore when he attempted to hoop. He was showing a lot of potential as a shot blocker, but everything fell apart when the basketball powers that be ruled he was no longer allowed to use his Pogo stick during games.
Baraga wins the opening tap. Mya Hendrickson hits a six for shot off the dribble from the baseline to give Baraga the first two points of the game. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds. The Possession Arrow consults its analyst and decides that it would be best to give the ball to the Panthers. Bree Besonen gets into the lane and is fouled on an eight foot shot. Bree Besonen hits two free throws to tie the game at 2-2 with 7:01 remaining in the opening quarter.
Baraga misses a six foot shot from the baseline. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a layup. Mya Hendrickson hustles and keeps the rebound from going out of bounds; she directs the ball to a Viking teammate. The Vikings misfire on a triple try from the wing. Allyssa Holley steals a Panther pass. Cara Connor drives and hits a layup to give Baraga a 4-2 lead.
Ewen-Trout Creek misfires on a triple try from the side. Kara Roberts drives and dishes the ball to Allyssa Holley, who throws in a threeball from the side for the Vikings. Allyssa Holley must have been a bit hotter than I realized as the fire alarm went off!! Things quiet down after a couple minutes and Mya Hendrickson knocks a Panther pass out of bounds. Ewen-Trout Creek retains possession.
Mya Hendrickson dives and steals the ball for the Vikings. Baraga misfires on a threeball from the corner. Cara Connor grabs the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Irelynd McGeshick blocks a Viking layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Ewen-Trout Creek takes possession. Mya Hendrickson defends aggressively and Ewen-Trout Creek loses the ball out of bounds. Cara Connor passes to Mya Hendrickson, who hits a layup to give Baraga a 9-2 lead.
Ewen-Trout Creek misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Baraga misses a layup. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a three point shot from the wing. Kara Roberts passes to Mya Hendrickson, who hits a layup for the Vikings. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 1:44 remaining in the opening quarter, Baraga has an 11-2 lead.
The Panthers miss a driving eight footer in the lane. Baraga misses a threeball from the wing. Aybri Sorenson steals the ball for the Vikings. (I love typing that phrase when covering teams called “Vikings”! What else would a good Viking do?) Bree Besonen ignores the Bleacher Denizen’s semantic musings and deflects the ball from the Vikings, but Baraga recovers.
Baraga misses a three point shot from the side. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a three point shot from the top of the key. The first quarter buzzer skips its appointment with the Possession Arrow’s analyst, seeks attention and blares to bring the first quarter to an end.
After one quarter, Baraga has an 11-2 lead.
Ewen-Trout Creek throws the ball in to open the second quarter. The Panthers commit an offensive foul. Baraga travels with the ball. (Basketball cliches can be interesting. Somehow, I doubt traveling without the ball would be terribly newsworthy.) McKayla Basel passes to Irelynd McGeshick, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Baraga lead to 11-3 with 6:53 remaining in the second quarter.
Kara Roberts passes to Mya Hendrickson, who hits a layup to lift Baraga to a ten point lead. Bree Besonen tosses in a three pointer from the wing for Ewen-Trout Creek. Baraga misses a driving layup. Emma Besonen drives and dishes the ball to McKayla Basel, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side to cut the Baraga lead to 13-8.
Irelynd McGeshick blocks a Baraga layup. The Besonen All-State Connection comes through as Emma passes to Bree, who hits a three point shot from the wing. Aybri Sorenson passes to Mya Hendrickson, who hits a layup for Baraga. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 4:50 remaining in the first half, Baraga has a 15-11 lead.
Baraga ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow looks up from its analyst’s couch, admires the Vikings’ hustle and awards the ball to Baraga. Baraga misses a three pointer from the wing. Mya Hendrickson gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Baraga misses a layup. Mya Hendrickson gets the offensive re bound for the Vikings. Baraga misses a layup. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a driving layup.
Irelynd McGeshick’s heady defense forces a Baraga traveling violation. Bree Besonen passes to McKayla Basel, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side to trim the Baraga lead to two points. Baraga misses a driving layup. Aybri Sorenson grabs the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Baraga misses a three point shot from the side.
Ewen-Trout Creek misses a driving reverse layup. Irelynd McGeshick gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Mya Hendrickson knocks the ball out of bounds; the Panthers retain possession. McKayla Basel is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to cut the Baraga lead to 15-14 with 2:23 to play in the opening half.
Baraga misses a three point shot from the corner. McKayla Basel passes to Irelynd McGeshick, who hits a hook/layup to give Ewen-Trout Creek a one point lead. Baraga drives from the side and misses a layup. Aybri Sorenson steals the Panther inbound pass. Baraga misses a fast break layup. Ewen-Trout Creek reciprocates and misses a fast break layup. Bree Besonen grabs the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a threeball from the wing. Baraga misses a driving layup. Ewen-Trout Creek has no time to shoot before the hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6GOgZAHqxIalftime buzzer decides to end the period.
At halftime, Ewen-Trout Creek has a 16-15 lead. Your Bleacher Denizen will be bold and predict that Ewen-Trout Creek will also lead 16-15 when the third quarter starts.
Mya Hendrickson has 10 points to lead Baraga.
Bree Besonen has 8 points to lead Ewen-Trout Creek.
As there is no halftime entertainment, I hope you will enjoy these videos from my You Tube Channel!!
“Blues Stay Away From Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TtsKUnqw7g
And for a song title that often accurately describes your aging Bleacher Denizen, here’s “Too Old To Cut The Mustard” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6GOgZAHqxI
As quarter number three opens, your Bleacher Denizen smugly notes that he HAS predicted the third quarter opening score accurately. Fortunately, some fans restrain your Bleacher Denizen to prevent him from twisting himself into a pretzel as he pats himself on the back.
Ewen-Trout Creek ignores the Bleacher Denizen’s smug posturing and inbounds the ball to open quarter number three. The Panther misfire on a triple try from the wing. McKayla Basel gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Mya Hendrickson knocks a Panther pass out of bounds; Ewen-Trout Creek retains possession. Bree Besonen gets into the lane and hits an up and under layup to push the Panther lead to 18-15.
Baraga misses a layup. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a ten foot runner from the baseline. Baraga misses a threeball from the side. Mya Hendrickson grabs the offensive board for the Vikings. Baraga misses a layup. Bree Besonen hits a three point shot from the wing for Ewen-Trout Creek. Baraga misses a three pointer from the corner and fouls on the rebound.
Ewen-Trout Creek misses a layup. Hannah Ferguson gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a layup. Emma Besonen steals the ball for the Panthers. Bree Besonen hits a layup to give Ewen-Trout Creek a 23-15 lead.
Baraga misses a three pointer from the wing. Allyssa Holley grabs the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Baraga misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Allyssa Holley gets the offensive rebound for Baraga. Baraga misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Emma Besonen passes to McKayla Basel, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side to boost her Panthers to a 25-15 lead.
Baraga misses an eight foot banked shot from the side. Allyssa Holley ties up the rebound for Baraga. The Possession Arrow and its analyst agree that it would be healthy to grant the ball to Baraga. McKayla Basel knocks the ball away from Baraga and Bree Besonen picks it up for Ewen-Trout Creek. The Panthers miss a layup. Baraga fouls on the rebound. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a driving layup. Irelynd McGeshick hits a putback to give Ewen-Trout Creek a 27-15 lead.
Baraga is called for traveling. Allyssa Holley knocks the ball away from Ewen-Trout Creek and Danica Jahtefson picks it up for Baraga. Baraga misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Ewen-Trout Creek misses a three point shot from the wing. McKayla Basel grabs the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Danica Jahfetson knocks the ball out of bounds; Ewen-Trout Creek retains possession. Ewen Trout Creek has just 1.6 seconds left in the quarter to shoot and misses an eighteen foot shot from the wing.
With three quarters in the books, Ewen-Trout Creek holds a 27-15 lead.
Ewen-Trout Creek inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. The Panthers miss a driving eight footer in the lane. Bree Besonen pulls down the offensive rebound for Ewen-Trout Creek. McKayla Basel hits a layup for Ewen-Trout Creek. Aybri Sorenson hits a layup for Baraga to trim the Ewen-Trout Creek lead to 29-17.
Ewen-Trout Creek misses a driving eight foot banked hook. Baraga misses a three pointer from the wing. Mya Hendrickson steals the ball for the Panthers. Hannah Ferguson gets her hand on a Baraga pass to foil a fast break. The ball goes out of bounds and Baraga gets the ball back. Kara Roberts hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Panther lead to 29-20.
Bree Besonen hits a three pointer off the wing from the top of the key for Ewen-Trout Creek. Aybri Sorenson drives from the side and is fouled on a ten foot hook shot in the lane. Aybri Sorenson hits one of her two free throws to trim the Panther lead to 32-21 with 4:12 left on the clock.
McKayla Basel hits a sixteen foot shot from the side for Ewen-Trout Creek. Baraga misses a driving layup. McKayla Basel passes to Irelynd McGeshick, who makes a post move, spins and hits a layup for EWen-Trout Creek. Baraga misses a driving layup. Bree Besonen drives and dishes the ball to Irelynd McGeshick, who hits a layup to give Ewen-Trout Creek a 38-21 lead.
Bree Besonen steals the ball for the Panthers. Ewen-Trout Creek commits a double dribble violation. Baraga misses a threeball from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Vikings get another opportunity. Baraga misses a three point shot from the wing. Mya Hendrickson ties up the offensive rebound for the Vikings. The Possession Arrow was having a flashback on the analyst’s couch and misses the play; the ball is awarded to Ewen-Trout Creek.
Bree Besonen drives and hits a layup for Ewen-Trout Creek. Irelynd McGeshick blocks a Baraga layup. Ewen-Trout Creek runs out the clock.
Ewen-Trout Creek wins this contest between two of the best final small school girls’ basketball teams in Michigan by the final score of 40-21.
Mya Hendrickson led the Baraga scoring with 10 points. Kara Roberts, Aybri Sorenson and Allyssa Holley each contributed 3 points. Cara Connor scored 2 points.
Bree Besonen led the scoring for Ewen-Trout Creek with 18 points. McKayla Basel joined her teammate in double figures with 13 points. Irelynd McGeshick contributed 9 points.